Prisoners Free Hostages After Protesting Hair Rules

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE - SOUTH

April 18, 1995

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Prisoners upset about a new policy requiring inmates to cut their hair stabbed five guards and took three hostages Monday in an uprising that ended after five inmates won permission to meet with the media. The five prisoners, three of whom wore long dreadlocks, walked out of the cafeteria where they were holed up for 11 hours, lay on their stomachs and were arrested. The shackled inmates then met for five minutes with Associated Press newsman Robert Tanner and two photographers to complain about the new hair guidelines and other proposed restrictions. Five guards were stabbed during the uprising, and four were in serious condition.